In early February, Jason Brooke had the wonderful opportunity to meet with Datuk Peter Minos, Chairman of the Brung Bratak Heritage Association. Bung Bratak has a rich history, which Datuk Peter recounted with great feeling with his son Michael Kulow present. In 1837 the Bidayuh settlement on the hill was attacked by raiders from the Skrang River, with many killed and over 1,000 slaves taken. After an appeal from survivor Panglima Kulow to Rajah James in 1841, the Rajah proceeded to the Skrang and secured the release of 700 of the captives, returning them to Bung Bratak. Their descendants now number some 35,000 spread across 35 villages in the region, with thousands returning each year to the mountain to celebrate their shared origins. It was a fascinating discussion on how we can reconnect with this community in what is the 175th year since this historic event.
4 February 2016
